Dual validator self-service kiosk

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods are provided for a dual validator self-service kiosk (“SSK”). The SSK may include a first validator. The first validator may examine a deposit inserted into the SSK. The SSK may include a second validator. The second validator may examine a tangible item before the SSK dispenses the tangible item. The SSK may retract the tangible item if the tangible item in not collected by a customer. The second validator may examine the tangible item after being retracted by the SSK. The first validator may apply a first examination routine to the deposit. The second validator may apply a second examination routine before the SSK dispenses the tangible item. The second validator may apply a third examination routine to a tangible item retracted by the SSK.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

Aspects of the invention relate to reducing costs associated withautomated teller machine (“ATM”) mis-dispense claims.

BACKGROUND

ATMs provide banking customers an ability to access bank accountinformation, deposit funds and withdraw cash. ATMs may often obviate theneed for a banking customer to consult a human clerk. Additionally, ATMsmay be located in a variety of diverse locations remote from bankingcenters. For example, ATMs may be placed on street corners, inconvenience stores, supermarkets or sports arenas.

In a typical ATM transaction, the customer may submit a request for awithdrawal of an amount of cash. The ATM may determine whether thecustomer has a bank account balance corresponding to, at least, a valueof the requested funds. If the customer has sufficient bank accountbalance, the ATM may dispense the requested amount of cash.

The ATM may present the requested amount of cash to the customer. If thecustomer does not collect all of the dispensed cash, the ATM may beconfigured to retract uncollected cash. The ATM may be configured towait for an expiration of a “time out” period before retracting cash.

An ATM customer may not retrieve all, or a portion of, dispensed cashbecause of an ATM malfunction. For example, the customer may submit arequest for $80.00 in twenty-dollar notes and the ATM may erroneouslydispense $40.00 in ten-dollar notes. The customer may not retrieve theerroneously dispensed ten-dollar notes. As a further example, the ATMmay not provide sufficient time for the customer to become aware thatthe cash has been dispensed. The ATM may retract cash before thecustomer has time to collect dispensed cash.

In response to a retraction of cash by the ATM, a customer may submit amis-dispense claim. The customer may submit the mis-dispense claim to anoperator of the ATM. The customer may submit the mis-dispense claim toan entity responsible for managing a bank account of the customer.

The customer may request a credit for uncollected cash retracted by theATM. The customer may request that because cash was retracted by theATM, the account of the customer should not be debited. The customer mayallege that none or a portion of a requested amount of cash wascollected by the customer.

A wide variety of ATM locations and lack of close supervision at an ATMincreases a risk that a customer may submit an unwarranted mis-dispenseclaim. For example, the customer may intentionally collect only aportion of dispensed cash. The customer may then submit a mis-dispenseclaim alleging not to have collected any of the dispensed cash.Unwarranted mis-dispense claim have become so prevalent that some ATMoperators have disabled a cash retraction feature of ATMs.

It would be desirable to provide a solution that examines cash retractedby an ATM following an unsuccessful customer withdrawal. Examination ofretracted cash may provide information useful in a processing ofmis-dispense claims and fraud research. For example, the examination mayprovide details such as denomination, number of bills retracted and atransaction identifier associated with the retraction.

Additionally, a requirement to replenish a cash supply of the ATM is acost of operating an ATM or a network of ATMs. Typically, ATMs may berefilled between bi-weekly to per day. Some ATMs in busy locations mustbe refilled twice a day. ATM operators may be reluctant to stock ATMswith additional cash because until the cash is dispensed from the ATMthe cash is idling, increasing an opportunity cost of the cash.Restricting the amount of cash that may be withdrawn by a customer mayinconvenience and irritate the customer. Armored personnel and servicesare typically employed to deliver cash to an ATM, further increasing thecost of replenishing the cash supply of an ATM.

An examination of cash dispensed or retracted by an ATM may indicatethat a cash inventory of the ATM is not being efficiently utilized.Obtaining accurate information relating to cash dispensing or retractingmay allow an ATM operator to better manage a cash inventory of an ATM ornetwork of ATMs.

For example, an ability to examine cash prior to dispensing the cash mayverify that genuine notes of the correct denomination are beingdispensed from the ATM. The examination may reduce a cost of dispensingcounterfeit notes, non-currency items or incorrect denominations thatmay have been erroneously loaded into the ATM. Detection of an erroneousloading of cash into the ATM may identify a human error or a processbreakdown related to cash inventory.

Therefore, it would be desirable to obtain detail associated with cashdispensed or retracted from an ATM. It would be desirable to obtaintransaction detail associated with cash dispensed or retracted from anATM. The transaction detail may supply information used in managing cashsupplied to an ATM.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide apparatus and methods for adual validator self-service kiosk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent uponconsideration of the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative apparatus in accordance with principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative apparatus in accordance with principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative apparatus in accordance with principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative apparatus in accordance with principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 shows illustrative processes in accordance with principles of theinvention;

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative apparatus in accordance with principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative process in accordance with principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 8 shows illustrative information in accordance with principles ofthe invention; and

FIG. 9 shows an illustrative process in accordance with principles ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus and methods are provided for a self-service kiosk thatincludes two validators.

The apparatus may include a self-service kiosk (hereinafter, “SSK”). TheSSK may include a validator. The validator may be configured to examinea tangible item.

The tangible item may be any suitable tangible item. For example, thetangible item may include currency, bank notes, event tickets,transportation tickets, lottery tickets and airline boarding passes.

The SSK may include a dispenser. The dispenser may be configured topresent the tangible item. The tangible item may be disbursed to acustomer of the SSK. The customer may be a customer of an entity thatoperates the SSK.

The dispenser may present the tangible item to the customer in responseto a request submitted by the customer. The dispenser may be configuredto retract the tangible item. The dispenser may be configured to retractthe tangible item into the SSK. The dispenser may be configured toretract the tangible item after the tangible item is dispensed.

The dispenser may be configured to retract the tangible item if thetangible item remains uncollected after expiration of a “time out”period. The time out period may be any suitable period of time such asone second, five seconds, ten seconds, fifteen seconds, one minute orfive minutes.

The SSK may include a validator. The validator may be coupled to thedispenser. The validator may be configured to examine the tangible item.The examination may include authenticating the tangible item. Theauthenticating may include determining a risk that the tangible item iscounterfeit. The examination may include determining a denomination ofthe tangible item. The examination may include counting a plurality oftangible items.

For example, if the tangible item is currency, the examination mayinclude determining a denomination of the retracted currency. Theexamination may include determining a number of bills retracted by thedispenser.

The SSK may include a cassette. The cassette may be configured to hold aplurality of tangible items. The cassette may hold the plurality oftangible prior to a dispensing of the tangible item. The cassette may becoupled to a validator. The cassette may be removable from the SSK. Inresponse to a request from a SSK user, a tangible item may betransferred from the cassette to the validator. The validator may applya validation routine to the tangible item before the tangible item indispensed to the SSK user. Applying the validation routine to thetangible item may include performing an examination of one or moreattributes of the tangible item.

The SSK may include a purge-bin. The purge-bin may be configured to holdone or more tangible items. The one or more tangible items may betransferred to the purge-bin after being retracted into the SSK by thedispenser. The purge-bin being coupled to the validator. The validatormay apply a validation routine to the tangible item before the tangibleitems is stored in the purge-bin. The purge-bin may be removable fromthe SSK.

The validator may be a first validator. The first validator may examinea tangible item prior to dispensing the tangible item. The firstvalidator may examine the tangible item after a retracting of thetangible item.

The tangible item may be a first tangible item. The SSK may include anacceptor. The acceptor may be configured to receive a second tangibleitem. The second tangible item may be deposited by a customer. Theacceptor may be configured to receive the second tangible item from thecustomer.

A first tangible item dispensed from a SSK may be one of a plurality offirst tangible items. The first validator may include a counter. Thecounter may be configured to count each of the plurality of firsttangible items. The counter may count first tangible items before theyare dispensed. The counter may count first tangible items are they areretracted by the dispenser.

The first validator may include a denomination detector. Thedenomination detector may be configured to detect a denomination of eachof the plurality of first tangible items. The first validator mayinclude a counterfeit detector. The counterfeit detector may beconfigured to identify non-currency items. The non-currency items may beincluded among the plurality of first tangible items.

The SSK may include a second validator. The second validator may becoupled to the acceptor. The second validator may be configured toexamine a second tangible item deposited by a customer into theacceptor. The second validator may be configured to provide a morerigorous examination compared to an examination of the first validator.For example, the second validator may be configured to determine whetherthe second tangible item is currency, a denomination of the currency andwhether the currency is in an acceptable condition for deposit.

The first validator may be configured to apply a first examinationroutine to a tangible item. The first examination routine may be appliedto the tangible item prior to dispensing a tangible item to thecustomer. The first validator may be configured to apply a secondexamination routine. The second examination routine may be applied afterretracting a tangible item. Applying an examination routine may includeidentifying one or more characteristics or attributes of a tangibleitem. Applying the examination routine may include validating orauthenticating the tangible item.

The second validator may be configured to apply a third examinationroutine. The third examination routine may be applied in response toreceiving a deposit from a SSK customer.

Methods for dispensing currency at an automated teller machine (“ATM”)are provided. The methods may be performed by an apparatus. Theapparatus may include a non-transitory computer readable medium. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium may include computer readableprogram code embodied therein. The apparatus may include a processor.The processor may be configured to execute the computer readable programcode.

The methods may include extracting a tangible item from a cash cassette.The methods may include examining the tangible item extracted from thecash cassette. The examination may include identifying the tangible itemas currency. The examination may include authenticating the currency.The examination may include determining a denomination of the currency.The methods may include presenting the currency to a customer. Thecurrency may be presented to the customer using a dispenser of the ATM.

The methods may include retracting currency after a time-out period. Themethods may include after the retracting, examining the currency. Anexamination of the currency after a retracting may include determining adenomination of the currency.

The tangible item may be one of a plurality of tangible items. Theplurality of tangible items may be stored in a cash cassette. Themethods may include, when the tangible item is one of a plurality oftangible items, extracting each of the plurality of tangible items fromthe cash cassette. The plurality of tangible items may be extracted inresponse to a withdrawal request entered by a customer of an ATM. Thecustomer may request an amount of cash.

The methods may include calculating a first value (“FV”). The FV maycorrespond to a value of the plurality of tangible items extracted froma cash cassette. The methods may include dispensing each of theplurality of tangible items to the customer.

Calculating the FV may include, after extracting tangible items from acash cassette, conducting a count of each of the tangible itemsextracted from the cash cassette. Calculating the FV may includedetermining a denomination of each of the tangible items extracted fromthe cash cassette. If a tangible item extracted from the cash cassetteis not currency, the methods may include transferring the non-currencyitem to a purge-bin. If a tangible item extracted from the cash cassetteis not currency, the methods may include extracting a replacement forthe non-currency item from the cash cassette.

The methods may include, after an expiration of a time-out period,retracting at least a portion of the plurality of tangible items. Afterthe retracting, each tangible item included in the portion of theplurality of tangible items may be transferred to a validator. Thevalidator may examine each of the retracted tangible items. Thevalidator may examine each of the retracted items before storing each ofthe retracted items in a purge-bin. Retracted tangible items maycorrespond to tangible items that have not been collected by thecustomer prior to expiration of a time-out period.

In response to a detection of a non-currency item extracted from thecash cassette, the methods may include submitting a mis-loaded cassetteclaim to an entity responsible for loading the cash cassette.

The methods may include calculating a second value (“SV”). The SV maycorrespond to a value of tangible items retracted by the SSK. Themethods may include computing a difference equal to: (FV)-(SV). Thedifference may correspond to a value of cash collected by the customer.The methods may include debiting an account of the customer an amountequal to the difference.

For example, the customer may request a withdrawal of $100.00. The ATMmay dispense $100.00 and the customer may only collect $80.00. Theuncollected $20.00 may be retracted by the ATM. A validator coupled tothe dispenser may examine the retracted cash. The validator maydetermine that $20.00 has been retracted. Based on a difference betweenthe amount of cash requested by the customer ($100.00) and the amount ofcash retracted by the ATM ($20.00), an operator of the ATM may debit anaccount of the customer not more than $80.00. Based on the determinationby the validator that $20.00 was retracted by the ATM, an operator ofthe ATM may deny a mis-dispense claim that alleges less than $80.00 wascollected by the customer.

The methods may include logging one or more details associated with anexamination of a tangible item. The details may include one or moreattributes or results of the examination. For example, the methods mayinclude logging a date and time of the identifying, a denomination of areplacement for a non-currency item or any suitable details.

If a tangible item does not correspond to an expected denomination, themethods may include transferring the tangible item to a purge-bin. Inresponse to detection of the unexpected denomination, the methods mayinclude submitting a mis-loaded cassette claim to an entity responsiblefor loading the cash cassette.

Methods for determining a value of cash dispensed by an automated tellermachine (“ATM”) are provided. The methods may include receiving arequest for a withdrawal of cash from the ATM. The request may besubmitted by a customer of the ATM. The customer of the ATM may be acustomer of a financial entity. The customer of the ATM may hold one ormore accounts at the financial entity.

The methods may include extracting cash from a cash cassette of the ATM.The extracted cash may be transferred to a validator. Prior todispensing the cash to an ATM customer, the methods may includeexamining the extracted cash. Prior to dispensing the cash to an ATMuser, the methods may include authenticating the extracted cash.

The extracted cash may be examined for non-currency items. As a resultof a process breakdown or human error, a non-currency item may beerroneously loaded into to a cash cassette. Examining the cash prior toa dispensing of the cash to an ATM customer may prevent the non-currencyitem from being dispensed to the ATM user.

The methods may include identifying a non-currency item included in afirst batch of cash. The first batch of cash may be extracted from acash cassette in response to a withdrawal request submitted by an ATMcustomer. In response to identifying a non-currency item included in thefirst batch of cash, the methods may include extracting a second batchof cash from the cash cassette. The methods may include examining thesecond batch of cash. The examining may include verifying that thesecond batch of cash does not include a non-currency item. If the secondbatch of cash includes only cash, the second batch of cash may bedispensed to the ATM customer.

The methods may include determining a first value of the extracted cash.The methods may include dispensing the extracted cash to the ATMcustomer. The methods may include retracting at least a portion of thecash dispensed to the customer. Retracted cash may include cashuncollected by the ATM customer. The retracting may occur afterexpiration of a time-out period.

After the retracting, the uncollected cash may be transferred to avalidator. The validator may examine the uncollected cash. Theexamination may include counting the uncollected cash. The validator mayperform the counting.

The validator may be one of a plurality of validators. For example, anATM may include a first validator for examining deposits received via anacceptor. The ATM may include a second validator for examining currencyretracted by a dispenser of the ATM. The second validator may examinecurrency extracted from a cash cassette.

The methods may include determining a second value. The second value maycorrespond to a value of the uncollected and retracted cash. The methodsmay include debiting an account of the ATM customer an amountcorresponding to a difference between the first value and the secondvalue.

Illustrative embodiments of apparatus and methods in accordance with theprinciples of the invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. It is to be understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and structural, functional andprocedural modifications may be made without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the inventiondescribed herein may be embodied in whole or in part as a method, a dataprocessing system, or a computer program product. Accordingly, theinvention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software,hardware and any other suitable approach or apparatus.

Furthermore, such aspects may take the form of a computer programproduct stored by one or more computer-readable storage media havingcomputer-readable program code, or instructions, embodied in or on thestorage media. Any suitable computer readable storage media may beutilized, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices,magnetic storage devices, and/or any combination thereof. In addition,various signals representing data or events as described herein may betransferred between a source and a destination in the form ofelectromagnetic waves traveling through signal-conducting media such asmetal wires, optical fibers, and/or wireless transmission media (e.g.,air and/or space).

FIG. 1 shows illustrative self-service device 100. Self-service device100 may be an ATM. Self-service device 100 may include monitor 102,keypad 104, card reader port 106, acceptor 108, item dispenser 110 andsecurity screen 112.

Monitor 102 may exchange visual and or audio information with acustomer. Keypad 104 may include alphanumeric keys 114 for the customerto enter numerical and textual data. Keypad 104 may include control keys116. In some embodiments, control keys 116 may be used to communicatecontrol information, such as instructions, to self-service device 100.Keypad 104 may include soft keys 118. Soft keys 118 may have functionsthat are dictated by programming and are presented to the customer usinginformation that may be displayed on monitor 102.

Card reader port 106 may be the front end of any suitable card reader.The card reader may read magnetically encoded information on transactioninstruments such as bank cards. In some embodiments, self-service device100 may include a contactless chip reader, a wireless transceiver or anyother suitable interface for exchanging transaction information with atransaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be a chip, anRFID tag, a smart card, a PDA, a telephone or any other suitable device.

In some embodiments, self-service device 100 may include a biometricsensor (not shown). The biometric sensor may identify a customer basedon a feature, such as an anatomical feature, of the customer. Forexample, the biometric sensor may be configured to identify the customerbased on all or part of a face, a fingerprint, an iris, a retina, a handor any other suitable anatomical feature. The biometric sensor mayidentify the customer based on a behavioral feature such as a signature,a voice, a gait or any other suitable behavioral feature.

Acceptor 108 may accept any suitable documents. For example, acceptor108 may accept envelopes, deposit forms, bills, checks or any othersuitable tangible item. In some embodiments, acceptor 108 may feed intoa scanner that digitizes the tangible item for image-based transactionprocessing.

Item dispenser 110 may dispense tangible items. For example, itemdispenser 110 may dispense bills.

Security screen 112 may visually screen a surveillance device (notshown). The surveillance device may provide video information aboutindividuals that are present near the self-service device and theconditions there.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates a generic computing device201 (alternatively referred to herein as a “server”) that may be usedaccording to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The computerserver 201 may have a processor 203 for controlling overall operation ofthe server and its associated components, including RAM 205, ROM 207,input/output module 209, and memory 215.

Input/output (“I/O”) module 209 may include a microphone, keypad, touchscreen, and/or stylus through which a user of device 201 may provideinput, and may also include one or more of a speaker for providing audiooutput and a video display device for providing textual, audiovisualand/or graphical output. Software may be stored within memory 215 and/orstorage to provide instructions to processor 203 for enabling server 201to perform various functions. For example, memory 215 may store softwareused by server 201, such as an operating system 217, applicationprograms 219, and an associated database 211. Alternatively, some or allof server 201 computer executable instructions may be embodied inhardware or firmware (not shown).

Server 201 may operate in a networked environment supporting connectionsto one or more remote computers, such as terminals 241 and 251.Terminals 241 and 251 may be personal computers or servers that includemany or all of the elements described above relative to server 201. Thenetwork connections depicted in FIG. 2 include a local area network(LAN) 225 and a wide area network (WAN) 229, but may also include othernetworks. When used in a LAN networking environment, computer 201 isconnected to LAN 225 through a network interface or adapter 213. Whenused in a WAN networking environment, server 201 may include a modem 227or other means for establishing communications over WAN 229, such asInternet 231.

It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areillustrative and other means of establishing a communications linkbetween the computers may be used. The existence of any of variouswell-known protocols such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like ispresumed, and the system can be operated in a client-serverconfiguration to permit a user to retrieve web pages from a web-basedserver. Any of various conventional web browsers can be used to displayand manipulate data on web pages.

Additionally, application program 219, which may be used by server 201,may include computer executable instructions for invoking userfunctionality related to communication, such as email, short messageservice (SMS), and voice input and speech recognition applications.

Computing device 201 and/or terminals 241 or 251 may also be mobileterminals including various other components, such as a battery,speaker, and antennas (not shown).

Terminal 251 and/or terminal 241 may be portable devices such as alaptop, tablets, smartphones, or any other suitable device for storing,transmitting and/or transporting relevant information.

Any information described above in connection with database 211, and anyother suitable information, may be stored in memory 215.

One or more of applications 219 may include one or more algorithms thatmay monitor a presence of a tangible item in a dispenser, examine atangible item, count retracted tangible items, determine a denominationof retracted tangible items, control a transfer of a tangible itembetween a validator and dispenser or perform any suitable tasks.

The invention may be operational with numerous other general purpose orspecial purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include,but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-heldor laptop devices, mobile phones and/or other personal digitalassistants (“PDAs”), multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-basedsystems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environmentsthat include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

The invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Theinvention may also be practiced in distributed computing environmentswhere tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linkedthrough a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotecomputer storage media including memory storage devices.

FIG. 3 shows illustrative apparatus 300. Apparatus 300 may include asystem for controlling a self-service kiosk such as self-service device100 (shown in FIG. 1).

Apparatus 300 may be controlled by CPU 302. CPU 302 may include one ormore features of server 201 (shown in FIG. 2). CPU 302 may exchangeinformation with electronic communication network N via modem 304, whichis in communication with router R.

CPU 302 may receive information from a customer via monitor 306, keypad308, card reader 310 or deposit acceptor 312. Cash cassette 316 maystore cash available to be presented to an ATM user.

CPU 302 may control an extraction of cash from cash cassette 316. CPU302 may control a transfer of cash from cash cassette 316 to validator318. Validator 318 may examine cash received from cash cassette 316.Validator 318 may apply one or more examination routines to cashreceived from cash cassette 316. CPU 302 may instruct validator 318 toapply the examination routines.

CPU 302 may receive information from validator 318. CPU 302 may receivea result of applying an examination routine performed by validator 318.CPU 302 may process the information received from validator 318. CPU 302may transmit information received from validator 318 onto electronicnetwork N via modem 304 and router R.

In response to information received from validator 318, CPU 302 mayinitiate a transfer of cash from validator 318 to purge-bin 311. Forexample, if a non-cash item is detected by validator 318, the non-cashitem may be diverted to purge-bin 311. CPU 302 may record a detection ofa non-cash item in mis-load log 322. Contents of mis-load log 322 may betransmitted onto network N.

CPU 302 may control a transfer of cash from validator 318 to billdispenser 314. Bill dispenser 314 may present cash to an ATM customer.Bill dispenser 314 may retract cash that is not collected by the ATMcustomer. CPU 302 may transmit and/or receive information to/from billdispenser 314. For example, CPU 302 may control a dispensing orretracting of bills using bill dispenser 314. CPU 302 may instruct billdispenser 314 to retract any currency that remains in bill dispenser 314after expiration of a time-out period.

CPU 302 may control a transfer of retracted cash from dispenser 314 tovalidator 318. CPU 318 may instruct validator 318 to apply anexamination routine designed for retracted cash. In response to a resultof applying the examination routine, CPU 302 may control a transfer ofretracted cash from validator 318 to purge-bin 311. CPU 302 may transmita result of the examination routine onto network N.

CPU 302 may receive request to insert a deposit. CPU 302 may instructacceptor 312 to receive the deposit.

CPU 302 may control a transfer of the deposit to validator 320.Validator 320 may apply one or more examination routines to the deposit.Based on a result of applying the examination routines, CPU 302 maydetermine whether to accept the deposit. Accepting the deposit maycorrespond to crediting an account of the depositor.

CPU 302 may instruct validator 320 to apply one or more examinationroutines based on a characteristic of the deposit. For example, CPU 302may instruct validator 320 to apply a first examination routine toidentify the deposit. CPU 302 may instruct validator 320 to apply asecond examination routine if the deposit is a check. CPU 302 mayinstruct validator 320 to apply a third examination routine if thedeposit is cash.

CPU 302 may control a transfer of the deposit from validator 320. Forexample, if CPU 302 determines that a cash deposit is of inferiorquality, CPU 302 may control transfer of the deposit from validator 320to deposit acceptor 312. The deposit may be returned to the ATM customervia acceptor 312. If CPU 302 determines that a deposit may becounterfeit, CPU 302 may control a transfer of the deposit fromvalidator 320 to a secure storage receptacle, such as purge-bin 311.

FIG. 4 shows illustrative components 400. Self-service device 100 (shownin FIG. 1) or apparatus 300 (shown in FIG. 3) may include one or morefeatures of components 400.

Components 400 include cash cassette 409. Cash cassette 409 may includeone or more features of cash cassette 316 (shown in FIG. 3). Cash may beretrieved from cash cassette 409 and transferred to validator 401.Validator 401 may include one or more features of validator 318 (shownin FIG. 3).

Validator 401 may examine cash retrieved from cash cassette 409 prior toa dispensing of the retrieved cash. If validator 409 identifies ananomaly associated with the cash retrieved from cash cassette 409, thecash may be diverted to purge-bin 411. Purge-bin 411 may include one ormore features of purge-bin 311 (shown in FIG. 3). Indicator 417 shows aflow of cash from cash cassette 409 through validator 401 to purge-bin411.

Components 400 include dispenser 405. Dispenser 405 may include one ormore features of dispenser 110 (shown in FIG. 1) or dispenser 314 (shownin FIG. 3). Cash examined by validator 401 may be dispensed usingdispenser 405. Indicator 415 shows a flow of cash from cash cassette 409through validator 401 to dispenser 405.

Dispenser 405 may be configured to retract uncollected cash. Theuncollected cash may be transferred from dispenser 405 to validator 401.Validator 401 may examine the uncollected cash retracted by dispenser405. Validator 401 may determine one or more characteristics of theuncollected cash. For example, validator 401 may determine a value ofthe uncollected cash. Validator 401 may determine a denomination of eachbill included in the retracted cash.

After examination of the retracted cash by validator 401, the retractedcash may be stored in purge-bin 411. Indicator 419 shows a retractionflow from dispenser 405 through validator 401 into purge-bin 411.

Components 400 include acceptor 407. Acceptor 407 may include one ormore features of acceptor 108 (shown in FIG. 1) or acceptor 312 (shownin FIG. 3). Acceptor 407 may receive tangible items for deposit. Atangible item inserted into acceptor 407 may be transferred to validator403. Validator 403 may include one or more features of validator 320(shown in FIG. 3). Validator 403 may apply one or more examinationroutines to the deposit. For example, validator 403 may determine arouting number and an account number on a deposited check. Validator 403may attempt to identify counterfeit cash inserted into acceptor 407.

If validator 403 identifies an anomaly associated with an item insertedinto acceptor 407, the item may be transferred to purge-bin 411. Ananomaly may include a result of an examination routine. Indicator 421shows an illustrative flow from acceptor 407 through validator 403 intopurge-bin 411.

If validator 403 determines that the item inserted into acceptor 403 maybe accepted for deposit, the item may be transferred to depository 413.Indicator 423 shows an illustrative flow of item from acceptor 407through validator 403 into depository 413.

FIG. 5 shows illustrative examination routines 500, 502 and 504. For thesake of illustration, the steps of the examination routines illustratedin FIG. 5 will be described as being performed by a “system.” The“system” may include one or more of the features of the apparatus thatare shown in FIGS. 1-4 and/or of any other suitable device or approach.For example, examination routines 500, 502 or 504 may be applied to atangible item by a validator, such as validators 318 and 320 (shown inFIGS. 3) or 401 and 403 (shown in FIG. 4).

The “system” may be provided by an entity. The entity may be anindividual, an organization or any other suitable entity.

Examination routine 500 includes five steps. At step 501, the systemvalidates currency. The currency may be received from an acceptor, suchas acceptor 108 (shown in FIG. 1), acceptor 312 (shown in FIG. 3) oracceptor 407 (shown in FIG. 4). Validating the currency may includeidentifying a deposited tangible item as currency.

At step 503, the system determines an authenticity of a tangible item.Determining authenticity may include attempting to identify acounterfeit or forged tangible item. The tangible item may be anysuitable tangible item. Authenticity may be determined by communicatingdetected characteristics of a deposited item to a remote network, suchas network N (shown in FIG. 3). Authenticity may be determined bycomparing one or more features of a deposited item to features stored ina database such as database 211 (shown in FIG. 2).

At step 505, the system determines a denomination of the tangible item.For example, the system may determine if the tangible item is a $10dollar-bill or a $20 dollar-bill. At step 507, the system counts two ormore tangible items. For example, the system may determine how many $20dollar-bills are received by a validator.

At step 509, the system may evaluate a quality of the tangible items.For example, if cash is deposited by a customer into a SSK, step 509 maydetermine whether cash is of a threshold quality. Quality may beevaluated based on discoloration of the cash discoloration or tears inthe cash.

Examination routine 500 may be performed by a validator in response toreceiving a tangible item from an acceptor. Tangible items received fromthe acceptor may be subject to a five step examination routine, such asroutine 500.

Examination routine 502 includes four steps. At step 511, the systemvalidates currency. At step 512, the system authenticates currency. Atstep 513, the system determines a denomination of currency. At step 515,the system counts notes.

Examination routine 502 may be performed by a validator in response toreceiving a tangible item from a cash cassette, such as cash cassette316 (shown in FIG. 3) or cash cassette 409 (shown in FIG. 4). Performingexamination routine 502 prior to dispensing a tangible item may preventitems erroneously loaded into the cash cassette from being dispensed toa customer. Tangible items received from a cash cassette may be subjectto a four step examination routine, such as routine 502. Examinationroutine 502 may be performed in less time than examination routine 500.

Examination routine 504 includes two steps. At step 517, the systemdetermines a denomination of one or more tangible items. At step 519,the system counts two or tangible items.

Examination routine 504 may be performed by a validator in response toretracting a tangible item from a dispenser. Performing examinationroutine 504 prior to storing a retracted tangible item may enable thesystem to detect and record one or more features of the retracted items.Retracted tangible items by may be subject to a two-step examinationroutine, such as routine 504. Examination routine 504 may be performedin less time than examination routines 500 or 502.

FIG. 6 shows illustrative apparatus 600. Apparatus may include one ormore features of apparatus 300 (shown in FIG. 3). Apparatus 100 (shownin FIG. 1) and apparatus 400 (shown in FIG. 4) may include one or morefeatures of apparatus 600.

Apparatus 600 includes validator 602. Validator 602 may include one ormore features of validators 318 or 320 (shown in FIG. 3) or validators401 or 403 (shown in FIG. 4). Validator 602 may include one or morefeatures of server 201 (shown in FIG. 2) or CPU 302 (shown in FIG. 3).

Apparatus 600 includes components of validator 602. Validator 602 mayinclude counter 606. Counter 606 may detect a number of tangible itemsexamined by validator 602. For example, the number of tangible items maybe items retracted by an ATM dispenser. Counting the number of retracteditems may allow an operator of the ATM to determine how many dispenseditems may have been collected by an ATM customer.

Validator 602 may include denomination detector 608. Denominationdetector 608 may determine a denomination of currency examined byvalidator 602. Denomination detector 608 may determine a denomination offoreign currencies. Based on the denomination of one or more retracteditems, an ATM operator may determine a value of cash retracted by theATM. Based on the denomination of one or more retracted items, an ATMoperator may determine a value of cash dispensed by the ATM.

For example, a cash cassette may be labeled as including onlytwenty-dollar bills. However, the cash cassette may erroneously includeone or more ten-dollar bills. Prior to dispensing cash to an ATM user,denomination detector 608 may determine whether a bill retrieved fromthe cash cassette is a twenty-dollar bill. If denomination detector 608detects a presence of currency denominations other than twenty-dollars,replacement currency may be retrieved from the cash cassette. Retrievingreplacement currency prior to dispensing the cash may reducedissatisfaction of an ATM customer resulting from a mis-dispensing ofcurrency.

Based on a determination by denomination detector 608, an ATM operatormay inform an entity responsible for loading the cash cassette that thecash cassette did not include exclusively twenty-dollar bills. The ATMoperator may request a refund of a difference between the expected valueof cash in the cassette and the actual value of cash in the cassette.

Validator 602 includes counterfeit detector 610. Counterfeit detector610 may determine if currency being examined by validator 602 isgenuine. Security features associated with currency may be stored indatabase 614. Database 614 may include one or more characteristics ofdatabase 211 (shown in FIG. 2). In some embodiments, currency securityfeatures may be stored at a location remote from apparatus 600.Validator 602 may access the remote database using modem 604, router Rand electronic communication network N.

Validator 602 may include fraud record generator 612. Data from counter606, denomination detector 608 and counterfeit detector 610 may betransmitted to fraud record generator 612. Fraud record generator 612may obtain data from remote sources such as network N. Fraud recordgenerator 612 may transmit data obtained from validator components ontonetwork N. Fraud record generator 612 may transmit data to a customer ora fraud investigation unit of a financial entity.

Fraud record generator 612 may transmit a look-up request to a database,such as database 614. Database 614 may store records of actionsperformed by a self-service device. The records may include a time anddate stamp, account numbers, method of access or any suitableinformation generates by a self-service device such as an ATM.

Fraud record generator 612 may submit a query to database 614 requestingone or more records of actions taken a self-service device within aperiod of time. The period of time may include a first period prior to adispensing of cash and a second period of time following the dispensingof cash. Fraud record generator 612 may include results of the query ina fraud record. The fraud record may include one or more accountsassociated with the actions performed by the self-service device.

For example, an ATM customer may access the ATM by enteringauthentication credentials by swiping a bank card and entering a PINnumber. Based on the entered credentials, the ATM may identify one ormore bank accounts associated with the customer. The ATM may allow thecustomer to conduct one or more transactions based on a balance of fundsin the one or more bank accounts. Each of the transactions conducted bythe customer may be included in a fraud record produced by fraud recordgenerator 612.

In some embodiments, fraud record generator 612 may generate a fraudrecord in response to a specific action performed by the ATM. Forexample, a fraud record may be generated in response to a request for awithdrawal of funds, in response to a retraction of cash by the ATM orin response to a deposit of a tangible item. In some embodiments, fraudrecord generator 612 may generate a fraud record in response to arequest received via network N.

FIG. 7 shows illustrative process 700. For the sake of illustration, thesteps of the process illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described as beingperformed by a “system.” The “system” may include one or more of thefeatures of the apparatus or processes that are shown in FIGS. 1-6and/or any other suitable device or approach.

The “system” may be provided by an entity. The entity may be anindividual, an organization or any other suitable entity.

At step 701, the system receives request from a customer for awithdrawal of an amount of cash. The customer may submit the requestusing an ATM. At step 703, the system determines an account balance ofthe customer. Prior to dispensing cash, the system may determine if thecustomer has an account balance sufficient to cover the requestwithdrawal amount.

At step 705, the system extracts cash from storage. The cash may bestored in a cash cassette, such as cash cassette 316 (shown in FIG. 3)or cash cassette 409 (shown in FIG. 4). At step 707, the systemvalidates the extracted cash. Validating the extracted cash may includeapplying one or more examination routines, such as the routines shown inFIG. 5. The validating may include determining a value of the cashextracted from storage.

At step 709, the system presents cash to the customer via a dispenser,such as dispenser 110 (shown in FIG. 1). At step 711, the system waitsfor expiration of a time-out period. The time-out period may provide thecustomer sufficient time to become cognizant of the cash having beendispensed and to collect the dispensed cash.

After expiration of the time out period, at step 713, the systemretracts any cash remaining in the dispenser. At step 715, the systemdetermines a value of the retracted cash. At step 717, the systemdetermines a difference between the value of the retracted cash and thevalue of the dispensed cash. Based on the difference, the system maydetermine an amount of cash collected by the customer. At step 719, thesystem debits the account of the customer not more than the difference.If the customer later contests the debited amount, the system mayproduce a record, such as a fraud record. The fraud record may show oneor more details associated with the retraction. The fraud record may begenerated by a fraud record generator, such as fraud record generator612 (shown in FIG. 6).

For example, the fraud record may include a “trace” of actions performedby the system. The trace may show that the customer initiated a requestfor withdrawal of an amount of cash received at a particulardate/time/location. The trace may show the value of cash dispensed anddenomination of each bill dispensed. The trace may include the value ofcash retracted and denomination of each bill retracted. The trace mayinclude error logs corresponding to one or more components of aself-service device. The trace may include any suitable information.

FIG. 8 shows illustrative information 800. Information 800 may becollated into a fraud record. The fraud record may include transactiondetails associated with a SSK session. The SSK may relate one or moreactions performed by the SSK. The one or more actions may each beassociated with a customer or a set of customer credentials.

The fraud record may list one or more transactions conducted during theSSK session. The fraud record may include transaction details determinedby a validator. Based on the fraud record, an entity may be prepared torespond to mis-dispense claims associated with one or more actionsperformed by the SSK during a SSK session.

The fraud record may show a relationship between two or moretransactions. For example, information 800 shows that a dispensing and aretracting are temporally related based on a difference in time betweenthe dispensing and the retracting. Information 800 also shows that thedispensing and the retracting occurred during one “session ID.”

FIG. 9 shows illustrative process 900. For the sake of illustration, thesteps of the process illustrated in FIG. 9 will be described as beingperformed by a “system.” The “system” may include one or more of thefeatures of the information and/or apparatus that are shown in FIGS.1-4, 6, 8 and/or any other suitable device, information or approach. The“system” may utilize one or more of the features of the processes shownin FIGS. 5, 7 and/or any other suitable approach.

The “system” may be provided by an entity. The entity may be anindividual, an organization or any other suitable entity.

At step 901, the system extracts a tangible item from storage. At step903, the system validates the extracted tangible item. Validating thetangible item may include applying one or more of examination routines500, 502 or 504 (shown in FIG. 5). At step 905, the system may determineif the tangible item is or is not cash.

If the extracted tangible item is not cash, then, at step 909, thesystem extracts a second tangible item from a storage compartment. Thestorage compartment may be a storage cassette holding one or moretangible items. The storage compartment may be a cash cassette. At step911 the system logs the substitution of the second tangible item for thefirst non-cash item. At step 913, the system transfers non-cash item toa purge bin. The purge-bin may be removed from the system and thenon-cash item may be examined. At step 915, the system submits amis-load claim. The mis-load claim may be submitted to an entityresponsible for loading cash into the storage compartment.

If the extracted item is cash, then at step 907, the system may dispensethe cash retrieved from storage to the customer.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the steps shownand described herein may be performed in other than the recited orderand that one or more steps illustrated may be optional. The methods ofthe above-referenced embodiments may involve the use of any suitableelements, steps, computer-executable instructions, or computer-readabledata structures. In this regard, other embodiments are disclosed hereinas well that can be partially or wholly implemented on acomputer-readable medium, for example, by storing computer-executableinstructions or modules or by utilizing computer-readable datastructures.

Thus, systems and methods for a dual validator self-service kiosk havebeen provided. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that thepresent invention can be practiced by other than the describedembodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration ratherthan of limitation. The present invention is limited only by the claimsthat follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A self-service kiosk comprising: a dispenserconfigured to: dispense a first tangible item to a customer; and retractthe first tangible item into the kiosk if the first tangible itemremains uncollected for a period of time; a first validator configuredto examine the first tangible item: before the first tangible item isdispensed by the dispenser; and after the first tangible item isretracted by the dispenser; a bi-directional flow path coupling thefirst validator to the dispenser, wherein the bi-directional flow pathis configured to transfer the first tangible item from the firstvalidator to the dispenser and from the dispenser to the firstvalidator; an acceptor configured to receive a second tangible item fromthe customer; a second validator coupled to the acceptor, the secondvalidator configured to examine the second tangible item received by theacceptor; and a purge-bin flow path coupling the second validator to apurge-bin, wherein the purge-bin flow path is configured to transfer thesecond tangible item from the second validator to the purge-bin.
 2. Thekiosk of claim 1, the first tangible item being one of a plurality offirst tangible items, the first validator comprising: a counterconfigured to count each of the plurality of first tangible items; adenomination detector configured to identify a denomination of each ofthe plurality of first tangible items; and a counterfeit detectorconfigured to identify non-currency items among the plurality of firsttangible items.
 3. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein: the first validator isconfigured to: apply a first examination routine to the first tangibleitem prior to dispensing the first tangible item to the customer; andapply a second examination routine to the first tangible item afterretracting the first tangible item; and the second validator isconfigured to apply a third examination routine to the second tangibleitem.
 4. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising a cassette configuredto hold a plurality of first tangible items, the cassette being coupledto the first validator.
 5. The kiosk of claim 4 wherein the firstvalidator is configured to examine each of the first tangible itemsextracted from the cassette.
 6. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein thepurge-bin flow path is a first purge-bin flow path, the kiosk furthercomprising a second purge-bin flow path that is configured to transferthe first tangible item after being retracted into the kiosk from thefirst validator to the purge-bin.
 7. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein thefirst tangible item is not money.
 8. An automated teller machine(“ATM”), the ATM comprising: a storage cassette configured to store afirst tangible item; a first validator configured to: receive the firsttangible item from the storage cassette; and apply an examinationroutine to the first tangible item, the examination routine comprising:identifying the first tangible item as currency; validating anauthenticity of the first tangible item; and determining a denominationof the first tangible item; a dispenser configured to receive the firsttangible item from the first validator and present the first tangibleitem to a customer; a bi-directional transfer path configured totransfer the first tangible item from the first validator to thedispenser and from the dispenser to the first validator; an acceptorconfigured to receive a second tangible item from the customer; a secondvalidator coupled to the acceptor, the second validator configured toexamine the second tangible item received from the customer; a purge-bintransfer path coupling the second validator to a purge-bin, wherein thepurge-bin transfer path is configured to transfer the second tangibleitem from the second validator to the purge-bin; and a computer systemcomprising: a non-transitory computer readable medium having computerreadable program code embodied therein; and a processor configured toexecute the computer readable program code; wherein the computerreadable program code in said computer system when executed by theprocessor causes the computer system to control: a first transfer of thefirst tangible item from the storage cassette to the first validator; asecond transfer of the first tangible item from the first validator tothe dispenser via the bi-directional transfer path; and a third transferof the second tangible item from the second validator to the purge-binvia the purge-bin transfer path.
 9. The ATM of claim 8 wherein: thedispenser is configured to retract the first tangible item after atime-out period; and the first validator is configured to determine adenomination of the currency after the time-out period.
 10. The ATM ofclaim 8 wherein, when the first tangible item is one of a plurality oftangible items: the first validator is configured to: apply a firstexamination routine to each of the plurality of tangible items; thedispenser is configured to: present each of the plurality of tangibleitems to the customer; and retract at least a portion of the pluralityof tangible items; the first validator is configured to receive theretracted portion of the plurality of tangible items via thebi-directional transfer path and apply a second examination routine tothe retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items; and thecomputer readable program code in said computer system when executed bythe processor causes the computer system to: calculate a first value(“FV”) corresponding to the dispensed plurality of tangible items;determine a second value (“SV”) corresponding to the retracted portionof the plurality of tangible items; calculate a difference equal to(FV)-(SV); and debit an account of the customer an amount equal to thedifference.
 11. The ATM of claim 10, wherein the second examinationroutine comprises: counting each tangible item in the retracted portionof the plurality of tangible items; and determining a denomination ofeach tangible time in the retracted portion of tangible items.
 12. TheATM of claim 8, wherein, if the first validator identifies the firsttangible item as a non-currency item, the computer readable program codein said computer system when executed by the processor causes thecomputer system to: control: a fourth transfer of the non-currency itemfrom the first validator to the purge-bin; and a fifth transfer of areplacement for the non-currency item from the storage cassette to thefirst validator; and log: a date and time of the identifying; and adenomination of the replacement.
 13. The ATM of claim 12, wherein thecomputer readable program code in said computer system when executed bythe processor causes the computer system to submit a mis-loaded cassetteclaim to an entity responsible for loading the cash cassette.
 14. TheATM of claim 8 wherein, if the denomination is not associated with thestorage cassette, the computer readable program code in said computersystem when executed by the processor causes the computer system to,control a fourth transfer of the first tangible item to the purge-bin.15. The ATM of claim 14 wherein, the computer readable program code insaid computer system when executed by the processor causes the computersystem to submit a mis-loaded cassette claim to an entity responsiblefor loading the cash cassette.
 16. An automated teller machine (“ATM”)comprising a first validator, a second validator and a purge-bin, theATM configured to: receive a deposit; transfer the deposit to the firstvalidator; transfer the deposit from the first validator to thepurge-bin; receive a request for a withdrawal of cash; in response toreceiving the request: extract the cash from a cash cassette; transferthe cash to the second validator; transfer the cash from the secondvalidator to a dispenser using a bi-directional transfer path; dispensethe cash to the customer; retract, after a time-out period, at least aportion of the cash not collected by the customer; transfer theretracted portion of the cash from the dispenser to the second validatorusing the bi-directional transfer path; wherein: the first validator isconfigured to examine the deposit; and the second validator isconfigured to examine: the cash prior to dispensing the cash to acustomer; and the retracted portion of the cash.
 17. The ATM of claim16, the ATM further configured to debit an account of the customer anamount corresponding to a difference between: a first value of the cashextracted from the cash cassette; and a second value of the retractedportion of the cash not collected by the customer.
 18. The ATM of claim17, the ATM further configured to, in response to a detection of thedifference: generate a fraud record, the fraud record comprising: a dateand time of the request; an action performed by the ATM in response tothe request; the first value; the second value; and the differencebetween the first value and the second value; and transmit the fraudrecord.
 19. The ATM of claim 16, wherein, when the cash is a first batchof cash, the ATM is configured to: transfer the first batch of cash tothe second validator; and if the second validator identifies anon-currency item included in the first batch of cash: extract a secondbatch of cash from the cash cassette; transfer the first batch of cashfrom the second validator to the purge-bin; and transfer the secondbatch of cash to the second validator.